Edge rolling attachment for rim rolling machine



Feb. 12, 1963 EDGE ROLLING ATTACHMENT FOR RIM ROLLING MACHINE Filed Oct. 27, 1958 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTOR/Vff' Feb. 12, 1963 .1. E. JOHNSON EI'AL 3,077,130

EDGE ROLLING ATTACHMENT FOR RIM ROLLING MACHINE Filed Oct. 27, 1958 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 lxvmwrons ATTOR/Vf) Feb. 12, 1963 J. E. JOHNSON ETAL EDGE ROLLING ATTACHMENT FOR RIM ROLLING MACHINE Filed Oct. 27, 1958 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 1N VEN TORJ JOHN 4'. vex/Ms o/v HARP r m rmfa fi BY JOG'P/l BEA-A 1? ma Am Feb. 12, 1963 J. E. JOHNSON EFAL 3,077,130

EDGE ROLLING ATTACHMENT FOR RIM ROLLING MACHINE Filed Oct. 27, 1958 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR5 JOHN A. Jo/m so/v l/AAAV I). X45661? ATTOR/Vf/S United States Patent 3,077,130 EDGE ROLLING ATTAKIHMENT FOR RIM RQLLING MACHENE John E. Johnson, Harry H. Yaeger, and Joseph Beeler, Dearhorn, Mich, assignors to Kelsey-Hayes Company, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Delaware,

Filed Get. 27, 1958, Ser. No. 769,610 lain1s. (Cl. 80--5) This invention relates to'rim rolling machines and refers more particularly to a rim rolling machine having a rim edge rolling attachment.

The invention has for one of its objects to provide a rim rolling machine with specially contoured rolls to trim and smooth an edge of the rim blank.

The invention has for another of its objects to provide a rim rolling machine having an attachment'for rolling and smoothing an edge of the rim blank during the rim rolling operation.

'- The invention has for a further object to provide a rim rolling machine having a rim edge rolling attachment which is automatically operated in timed relation with the rolls of the machine to roll an edge of the rim blank during the rim rolling operation.

Other objects and features of the invention will become apparent as the description proceeds, especially when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, illustrating a preferred embodiment'of'the invention, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a front elevation of a rim rolling machine embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is a view taken on the line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a view on the line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a wiring diagram.

FIG. 5 is a view of the rolls of the rim rolling machine; and,

FIG. 6 is a similar to FIG. 2 and shows a modification.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, the rim rolling machine is generally indicated at 10 and comprises a fixed frame'structure 11 and a pair of contoured upper and lower rim forming rolls 12 and 13 rotated by any suitable source of power. The upper roll 12 is secured to the end of a horizontal shaft 14 which is rotatably supported on the frame ina fixed bearing. The lower roll 13 is secured to the end of a horizontal shaft 15 journaledfor rotation in a bearing block 16. The bearing block 16 is supported on the frame for vertical sliding movement by the guides 17. The roll shafts 14 and 15 are located in a common vertical plane and the lower roll is movable vertically toward and away from the upper roll by a hydraulic piston-cylinder assembly 18. The assembly 18 comprises a vertical cylinder 19 of the cylinder through line 21 and exhausting the lower end of the cylinder through line 22 to lower roll 13, and is shiftable to a second position upon the energization of a solenoid S to admit fluid under pressure to the lower end of the cylinder and exhaust the upper end to raise roll 13. Lines 24 and 25 to the valve are respectively hydraulic fluid pressure and exhaust lines.

Thecontours of the rolls 12 and 13 are illustrated in FIG. 5. The upper roll is made up of the circular segments A, B and C which are secured together in concentric relation and the lower roll 13 is made up of the circularsegments D, E, F'and G also clamped together in concentric relation. By forming the rolls of roll segments, at worn portion of either roll may be repaired by simply substituting a new segment. The pheripheral contours ofthe rolls, in the operative position of the rolls shown in FIG. 5, define a space 28 there-between corresponding to the desired cross-section of the rolled rim shown in section in FIG. 5 between the rolls. The upper roll segment C has a circular peripheral portion 29 which is of enlarged diameter and extends toward the other roll across the space defined between the peripheral contours of the rolls in the operative position thereof, and the lower roll has a corresponding circular peripheral portion 28 which is of reduced diameter to clear the projecting portion 29.

The projecting portion29 of enlarged diameter has an axially inner, radially extending annular surface 29 which merges into the contoured portion of the segment C in an are. 302 In the rolling operation, the surface 29' operates to trim the adjacent outboad edge 26 of the rim "during the rolling operation and the arcuate portion 30 thereofforms a smooth rounded radius on the radially outer corner of the outboard edge of the rim.

In mounting a tire on the rolled rim, the tire is forced over the outboard edge 26 thereof. If this edge is rough or sharp, the tire beads may be cut or scored during the mounting operation. It has been found that a tubeless tire may have its beads damaged to such an extent that an imperfect seal is made with the tire retaining flanges 27 of the rim.

While the radially outer corner'of the outboard edge of the rim is the more criticalof the two corners, and while this corner is rolled and smoothed by the rolls 12 and 13, it is also highly desirable to round and smooth the radially inner corner of this edge since the tire bead may engage both corners of the rim edge during mounting. Accordingly an edge rolling attachment is provided.

The attachment is generally indicated at 30 and comprises an edge roller 31 formed intermediate its ends with is a smooth curve adapted to round the edge of the rim blank to a rounded cross-section. Both the radially inner and radially outer corner of the edge are rolled and smoothed by the groove of the roller. Hence the attachment may be used with conventional rolls which do not roll the radially outer corner of the outboard edge of the rim, in place of the special rolls 12 and 13. The roller from the groove to the outer end is of reduced diameter in order to clear the adjacent tire retaining flange of the rim blank. The roller is positioned with its axis of rotation extending through the axis of the rim blank gripped between the forming rolls 12 and 13, at right angles thereto. The roller is fixed on the outer end of a spindle 33 by a fastener 34, and the spindle is coaxial with the roller and is disposed in a bore 35 formed in the spindle support block 36. The bore of the block 36 The rolls 12 and 13 are formed with complementary peripheral contours and when the lower roll is raised to the operative position shown in FIG. 1, the rolls are adapted to grip between them the wall of an annular rim blank B and roll the same to the contour of the rolls. In

center shape illustrated in FIG. 2.

has the axially spaced annular recesses 37 in which are disposed the needle bearings 38 for supporting the spindle for substantially frictionless rotation. Nuts 39 are threaded on the inner end of the spindle, and bronze bushings 40 encircle the spindle between one end of the spindle support block and roller and also between the other end of the spindle support block and nuts. The spindle is thus held against axial movement relative to the support block and at the same time is supported thereby for substantially free rotation.

The spindle support block is axially slidable in the recess 41 of a slide 42. As seen in FIG. 1 the block 36 and recess 41 are inclined downwardly and the lower end portion of the block normally rests against adjustable stop screws 42' threadedly mounted on plate 43' which is bolted to the slide 42. Thusthe block is adapted to float freely in the recess to follow the rim edge contour. The slide 42 is formed with ribs 43 slidably engaging grooves 44 formed in the generally C-shaped guide 45. The slide is thus guided for sliding movement in opposite directions along a line parallel to the axes of the roll shafts 14 and 15. The guide 45 is a portion of the roller mounting bracket 46 which also .has a base 47 rigidly secured to the guide 45 and mounted on the frame 11 of the machine by amounting plate 48.

A reversible air cylinder 49 is mounted on plate 50 secured to the top of the guide 45. The air cylinder has a reciprocable piston (not shown) therein connected to the slide 42 by a connecting rod 51. The air lines 52 and 53 lead to opposite ends of the cylinder from the four-way valve 54. Normally the valve 54 is spring urged to a position admitting air under pressure to the inner end of the cylinder through line 53 and exhausting the outer end through line 52, and is shiftable to a second position admitting airunder pressure to the outer end of the cylinder and exhausting the inner end upon the energization of a solenoid S. Air under pressure is supplied to the valve by line 55, and 56 is an exhaust line. When 'air under pressure-is admitted to the outer end of the cylinder, the roller is moved toward the frame of the machine to an operative position in which the outboard edge of the rim being rolled by the 'pair'of rolls 121and 13 is engaged in the peripheral groove 32 of the roller. The edge of the rim blank rotatedby the forming rollsis rolled in: the groove of the edge roller'which is forced against the edge of therim blank by cylinder 49 under a pressure Sufficient to smooth out and eliminate any'rough edges. The roller of course acts on the full periphery of the rim edge as the rim is rotated by the forming rolls 12 and 13 during the rim rolling operation and on both the radially inner and radially outer corners thereof.

When used with the forming rolls 12 and 13, the edge roller 31 is primarily intended to form a radius on the aadiallyinner corner of the'outboard rim edge. However is apparent that the roller acts on both the radially outer and radially inner corners of the :outboard edge and hence-this roller performs an additional rolling action on the-radiallyouter 'conrer-to insure the formation of a smooth radius at the most critical point in the edge where burrs or rough-spots are mostlikely to damage the-bead of a tire mounted on the rim. Thus, the roller is also suited for'at tachment to a rim rolling machine having conventional rolls whichdo not form a radiuszon the radially-outer corner of the outboard rim edge.

In use, a rolling machine cycle is started by closing "the switch 60 to energize solenoid S in circuit 61. The relay Ris also energized-and the relay has a contact r in a holding circuit to maintain the circuit to the solenoid after the start switch isreleased. Energization of solenoid S operates the valve 23 to raise the lower roll 13 to the-FIG. 1 position'so that the rolls 12 and 13 will grip the wall of an annular rim blank therebetween and roll the blank to the configuration of the contoured rolls, as shown in FIG'LZ. The rolls 12 and 13 are driven by any suitable means.

Relay-R has a second contact 1'" in the circuit 62 of solenoid S'. I T-hebearingblock 16, on which the lower roll is mounted, is adapted to engage and hold'in closed position a limit switch LS in the upper or operative position of'th'e lower roll. When the limit switch LS is closed and contact r' i'sclosed the circuit to solenoid S'is closed to energize the'solenoid and operate valve 54 to move the edge roller toward the rim blank. Hence the edge roller does not move to operative position until the rim blank is gripped between the'forming rolls and the rolling operation has begun. The roller has'the effect of smoothing out any roughness or sharp spots and of rounding the cross-sectional shape of the outboard edge of the rim. As pointed out above, the block 36 supporting the edge roller floats axially during the edge rolling operation. The stop screws 42' will be adjusted to support the block in a position radially inwardly relative to the rim blank B from the FIG. 1 position so that the roller will be picked up or lifted from the stop screws by the rim blank edge. The groove 32 is flared at 32' to be readily picked up by the edge of the blank.

A timer T in the circuit to solenoid S opens after a predetermined period of time de-energizing the solenoid and returning valve 23 to its normal position lowering roll 13. At the same time, relay R is de-energized opening the circuit to solenoid S. Hence solenoids S and S are de-energized at substantially the same instant. The de-energization of solenoid S' shifts valve 54 to a position retracting the edge roller from its operative position to clear the edge of the rim. Since the cylinder 49 is pneumatic and much smaller than the hydraulic cylinder 19, the movement from operative position of the edge roller precedes that of the lower roll.

FIG. 6 illustrates a modified edge rolling attachment. The attachment is generally indicated at 70 and comprises the edge roller 71 and the back-up roller 72. The rollers are carried by a bracket 73 fixedly mounted on the frame structure 11 of the machine. The roller 71 is mounted on a shaft 73' which extends parallel with the axes of rolls 12 and 13 and is journaled for free rotation in the spindle block 74. The spindle block 74 is adjustable in the ways 75 .of-slide 76 radially of the rim blank being rolled. The mechanism for adjusting the spindle block comprises a screw 77 journaled for rotation in the slide 76 but heldagainst axial movement, and a nut 78 engaging the screw and secured to the block 74 so that rotation of the screw will effect adjustment of the block. The slide 76 is reciprocable along ways 79 of bracket 73 in directions parallel to .the shaft 73 by an air cylinder 80 :mounted on the bracket. The back-up roller 72 has a periphery of uniform circular cross-section adapted to engage .the outboard edge portion of the rim blank during the rolling operation on the radially outer surface thereof. The roller 72 is mounted on a shaft 81 parallel to shaft 73' journaled for free rotation in the spindle block 82. The spindle block 82 is mounted on the bracket 73 by bolts 83, and may be adjusted radially of the. rim blank being rolled by the insertion of one or more shims 84.

Theedge roller 71 has a portion 85 with a periphery of uniform circular cross-section, and centrally on the front face thereof it is formed with a projecting circular rolling embossment 86 concentric with the roller axis and of the-shape illustrated when viewed from the side.

In the operative position of the edge roller, its radial front or right-hand face engages the radial rear face of the back-up roller as shown in FIG. 6. It is moved to this position under air pressure entering the head end of cylinder 80 through line 87. The .piston (not shown) within cylinder 80 is connected to slide v76 by a rod 88. The rod end of the cylinder is also connected by a fluid line 89 which is open to exhaust line 90 when the edge roller is advanced to its operative position. A four-way valve 91 is provided for alternately admitting air under pressure to and exhausting opposite ends of the cylinder. A. source of air under pressure is connected to the valve via'line 92 and the valve is controlled by solenoid S. The edge roller is retracted axially to the left by reversing the valve 91. This takes place upon de-energizing of S.

The operation is the same as described in connection with FIGS. l-5, and the wiring diagram 'of FIG. 4 applies also to the FIG. 6 embodiment. When the start switch 60 is closed, solenoid S is energized to operate valve 23 and raise the lower roll 13 to the operative position (shown in FIG. 1) wherein the rolls 12 and 13 grip the Wall of the rim blank and roll it to the configuration of the contoured rolls. When the limit switch LS is closed by the lower roll in its upper or operative position, a circuit is completed through the now closed contact r to the solenoid S to energize the latter and operate valve 91 to move the edge roller 71 from a normally retracted position to the right and into engagement with the back-up roller 72. The outboard edge of the rim blank is confined between the portions 85 and S6 of the edge roller and the periphery of the back up roller as shown in FIG. 6. The circular portion 86 of the edge roller merges into the radial front surface of the portion 85 in a smooth curve 95 throughout a full 360 and has the effect of smoothing out any roughness or sharp spots on the radially inner corner of the rim edge. The edge roller is held against the back-up roller under suificient pressure to roll and smooth the edge of the rim.

While this edge rolling attachment does not roll a radius on the radially outer corner of the outboard edge, such rolling of the outer corner is eifected satisfactorily by the rim rolls 12 and 13.

The timer T in the circuit de-energizes the solenoids S and S in the same manner as in the first embodiment.

What we claim as our invention is:

1. In a rim rolling machine, a frame, a pair of rolls mounted on said frame for relative movement toward and away from each other to and from an adjacent operative position for radial pressure engagement with the inner and outer sides of the relatively thin Wall of an annular rim blank from one edge thereof to the other in a rim rolling operation, means for rounding and smoothing a corner of said one edge of said wall of the rim blank including a freely rotatable edge roller mounted on said frame adjacent said rolls in position for axial pressure engagement with the corner of said one edge of the rim blank during the rim rolling operation, means for moving said roller transversely of the path of relative movement of said rolls for such axial pressure engagement of said roller with the corner of said one edge, said roller being disposed with its axis at right angles to and extending through the center of the rim blank during the rolling operation, said roller having an annular peripheral groove concentric with its axis of rotation for receiving said one edge of the wall of the rim blank, the bottom of said groove being formed in a smooth concave arc engaging and applying axial pressure against the corner of said one edge, and means mounting said roller for axial movement so that it can adapt itself to the said one edge engaged thereby.

2. In a rim rolling machine, a frame, a pair of rolls mounted on said frame for relative movement toward and away from each other to and from an adjacent operative position for radial pressure engagement with the inner and outer sides of the relatively thin wall of an annular rim blank from one edge thereof to the other in a rim rolling operation, and means for rounding and smoothing a corner of said one edge of said wall of the rim blank including an edge roller arranged with its axis of rotation at substantially a right angle to and extending through the center of the rim blank during the rim rolling operation and in such a position with respect to said rolls as to have axial pressure engagement with the corner of said one edge of the rim blank during the rim rolling operation, and means mounting said roller for axial movement so that it can adapt itself to the said one edge engaged thereby.

3. In a rim rolling machine as defined in claim 2, said roller having an annular groove concentric with its axis of rotation adapted to engage and apply axial pressure against the corner of said one edge.

4. In a rim rolling machine as defined in claim 3, said edge roller being mounted for free rotation on said frame adjacent said rolls, and means for moving said roller transversely of the path of relative movement of said rolls for such axial pressure engagement of said roller with the corner of said one edge.

5. In a rim rolling machine, a frame, a pair of rolls mounted on said frame for relative movement toward and away from each other to and from an adjacent operative position for radial pressure engagement with the inner and outer sides of the relatively thin wall of an annular rim blank from one edge thereof toward the other in a rim rolling operation, and means for rounding and smoothing a corner of said one edge of said wall of the rim blank including a roller mounted in such a position with respect to said rolls as to have axial pressure engagement with the corner of said one edge of the rim blank during the rim rolling operation.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,715,330 Rendleman May 28, 1929 1,906,578 Grotnes May 2, 1933 1,977,285 McCleery Oct. 16, 1934 2,043,665 Iversen et al. June 9, 1936 2,122,477 Leonard July 5, 1938 2,307,191 Bell Jan. 5, 1943 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,057,390 France Oct. 28, 1953 

1. IN A RIM ROLLING MACHINE, A FRAME, A PAIR OF ROLLS MOUNTED ON SAID FRAME FOR RELATIVE MOVEMENT TOWARD AND AWAY FROM EACH OTHER TO AND FROM AN ADJACENT OPERATIVE POSITION FOR RADIAL PRESSURE ENGAGEMENT WITH THE INNER AND OUTER SIDES OF THE RELATIVELY THIN WALL OF AN ANNULAR RIM BLANK FROM ONE EDGE THEREOF TO THE OTHER IN A RIM ROLLING OPERATION, MEANS FOR ROUNDING AND SMOOTHING A CORNER OF SAID ONE EDGE OF SAID WALL OF THE RIM BLANK INCLUDING A FREELY ROTATABLE EDGE ROLLER MOUNTED ON SAID FRAME ADJACENT SAID ROLLS IN POSITION FOR AXIAL PRESSURE ENGAGEMENT WITH THE CORNER OF SAID ONE EDGE OF THE RIM BLANK DURING THE RIM ROLLING OPERATION, MEANS FOR MOVING SAID ROLLER TRANSVERSELY OF THE PATH OF RELATIVE MOVEMENT OF SAID ROLLS FOR SUCH AXIAL PRESSURE ENGAGEMENT OF SAID ROLLER WITH THE CORNER OF SAID ONE EDGE, SAID ROLLER BEING DISPOSED WITH ITS AXIS AT RIGHT ANGLES TO AND EXTENDING THROUGH THE CENTER OF THE RIM BLANK DURING THE ROLLING OPERATION, SAID ROLLER HAVING AN ANNULAR PERIPHERAL GROOVE CONCENTRIC WITH ITS AXIS OF ROTATION FOR RECEIVING SAID ONE EDGE OF THE WALL OF THE RIM BLANK, THE BOTTOM OF SAID GROOVE BEING FORMED IN A SMOOTH CONCAVE ARE ENGAGING AND APPLYING AXIAL PRESSURE AGAINST THE CORNER OF SAID ONE EDGE, AND MEANS MOUNTING SAID ROLLER FOR AXIAL MOVEMENT SO THAT IT CAN ADAPT ITSELF TO THE SAID ONE EDGE ENGAGED THEREBY. 